The Splendor of Supernovae

The Splendor of Supernovae

Supernovae are some of the most beautiful, yet uncommonly violent, celestial occurrences in existence. The sight of a supernova is spectacular, although seeing a supernova event is incredibly rare. First of all, less than one percent of all stars are massive enough to supernova. Second of all, most stars are quite distant from Earth, and greater distance between a star and an observer’s position decreases the apparent brightness of the star. However, a supernova has the luminosity and brilliance of an entire galaxy. So, if scientists are both lucky and vigilant, it is possible to keep track of some supernovae occurring. Since very few stars are massive enough to go nova, and even fewer of these stars are within range of the Milky Way Galaxy, it is understandable to find that the chance of a Near-Earth Supernova occurring is significantly small. Professor Brian Fields is one astronomer who has devoted his time and research into studying the phenomenon of Near-Earth supernovae and the impacts these supernovae have, along with studying and identifying some of the markers which are used to prove the existence of such celestial events. To better understand Fields’ work, it is helpful to understand what is occurring in a star that is in the process of becoming nova. Then, it is necessary to understand the importance and implications that his research has had.

First of all, it is useful to know what occurs in stars that are in the process of becoming supernovae. After a star leaves its main sequence phase, it passes on to the red giant phase. Since only massive stars, those stars with more than at least eight times the solar mass of the Earth’s sun, have the ability to react violently enough to supernova, it is wise to focus on what occurs in these massive stars. During this time, the hydrogen fusion in the core is replaced by helium fusion in the core and hydrogen fusion moves to the shell of the star. As the helium fusion occurs, the...